University of New England violated NCAA financial aid rules

BIDDEFORD, Maine — An NCAA committee has cited the University of New England for violating financial aid rules.

The penalties include two years of probation, suspension of the school’s former athletic director and forfeiture of the financial aid in question.

The NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions said in its ruling on Tuesday that the violations involved a university diversity scholarship which was intended to be awarded to applicants who could contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of the university. But the NCAA says the university awarded larger scholarships to some student-athletes compared to other students.

The committee said the violations were unintentional.

UNE President Danielle Ripich told the Portland Press Herald that UNE has cooperated with the NCAA investigation and conducted its own review of the financial procedures that were being questioned.